Adjustable socket



c. A. a. HALvdRsoN ADJUSTABLE SOCKET Filed April 30. 1928 Invertbor Cromwell A B. Halvorson,

by w

His Attorney Patented Dec. 1, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CBOH'W'ELL' A. B. EALVOB8ON, OF LYNN, IASSAGEUSETTS, ASSIGNOB TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK ADJUSTABLE SOCKET Application filed April 30,

panying drawings, in which I show a number of difi'erent forms of devices involving the features of the invention. It will be understood, however, that I 'do not wish-to be limited to devices of the specific forms shown, inasmuch as in view of the disclosure the devices may be modified without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims contained herein.

Referring to the accom anying drawings, Fig. 1 shows oneform 0 device of-the invention in erspective with adjustable plug terminals. igs. 2, and 3 show in perspective modifications of the invention. Fig. 4 is a section through the device of Fig. 1 taken on line 6-6. In this figure, however, they device is represented as being inserted in an independent socket, the latter being shown in the upper part of the figure, and in section also. Fig. 5 is a section on line 7-7 of the clamp for the device, Fig. 2.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 4, 2 indicates a lamp socket comprising a casing 22 of insulating material, a screw shell 29 of conducting material which forms one terminal and a central contact 30.which forms theother terminal. The shell 29 and central contact 30 are held by contact screws 31 and 32. At A is indicated a plug comprising a base 6 of ins'ulatingmaterial which carries spring contacts 16 and 17 attached to the base by contact screws 18 and 19. Spring contacts 16 and 17 are adapted to be inserted between and to engage with the spring contacts'20 and 21 of a line receptacle 13 shown in Fig. 4. When in use, as is well known, contacts 1928. Serial No. 273,804.

16 and 17 are separated by a film of insulating materialwhich breaks down upon being subjected to a predetermined high voltage,

a film in the form of a disk 22, termed usually a disk film cutoutl, being shown in Fig. 4 in the present instance.

The lamp socket 2, the line receptacle ,B, and the arrangement for contacts 16, 17 and 21, 22 and their manner of engagement with each other are old and well known in connection with series incandescent street lighting structures, the constructions illustrated being the ones in common use.

My invention relates p'articularlyto means for adjusting the lamp socket 2 whereby its position and hence the position of the lam 1n the fixture may be adjusted, and accor ing to my invention, I provide means whereby the distance between the plug contacts 16 and '17 and the lamp socket may be varied.

According to the embodiment of the invention shown inFigs. 1 and 4, I accomplish this result by providing contact strips 4 and 5 which are connected to the terminals of lamp socket 2 and contact strips 7 and 8 which are connected to the spring contacts 16 and 17 of plug A, and so connecting the contact strips to each other that their combined lengths may be varied. For this purpose, contact stri s 4 and 5 are provided with longitudinal y'extending slots 12 and 15 respectively, in which are located rectangular shoulders 11 and 14 adjacent to the heads of screws 9 and 12, the screws projecting throug holes in contact strips 7 and 8 and being hel by nuts 10 and 13. By loosening nuts 10 and 13,v lamp socket 2 may be moved toward and away from plug A, shoulders 11 and 14 sliding in slots 12 and 15, and fixed in adjusted position by again tight ening the nuts. .The contact strips 4 and 5 are held by contact screws 31 and 32 and the contact strips 7 and 8 are held by contact screws 18 and 19 so that strips 4 and 5 are electrically connected to the lamp socket terminals and the strips 7 and 8 are electrically connected to the plug contacts 16 and 17. The circuit through the lamp is thus completed through strips 4, 7 and 5, 8.

Referring to the form of device shown in Fig. 2, the construction is quite similar to that shown in Fig. 1. A. modification, however, appears in the clamping element. The clamping element of Fig. 1 comprises two independent screws 9 and 12, whereas the clamping element of Fig. 2, as shown in detail in Fig. 5, is provided with a block of insulating material 23, which is provided with a central opening in which the heads 24 of the screws 25 and 26 are located. In the form of construction shown in Fig. 2 the plug contact elements 16' and 17 are held assembled by means of cleats 42 and 43 of insulating material, which cleats are held together by screws 44. In order to prevent the contact elements 16' and 17 from sliding on the socket terminals or strips 27 and 28 independently, the heads of the screws 24 and 25, as shown in Fig. 5, are interlocked by means of the block 23 of insulating material as previously explained.

In order to limit ,the extent to which the plug contact elements 16' and 17' may be thrust into a socket element such as the socket element B, Fig. 4, these elements 16 and 17 are provided with offset sections 45 which form a stop.

In the form of device shown in Fig. 3, the casing 33 of the socket is provided with terminals or strips 34 and 35 in the form of screws which carry, in threaded engagement therewith, corresponding spring plug contacts 36 and 37. The spring 36 is provided with a bracket structure comprising flanges 38 and 39 through which the screw 34 extends. ,The spring 37 is provided with a similar bracket structure comprising fladges 40 and 41 through which the screw 35 extends. Each of these contact springs 36 and 37 may be adjusted on its screw support by being turned thereon. For example, the spring 36 may be rotated 180 to remove the spring 36 from engagement with the spring 37. When this is done the "spring 37 may be adjusted more easily by being turned on the screw 35. When the spring reaches the desired po sition it is allowed to remain in a position outside of the screw 35 with respect to the screw 34 in order that the spring 37 may be adjusted on the screw 34. When the spring 36 reaches the desired position both of the springs 36 and 37 are brought into engagement nected to the lamp socket terminals and to the plug contacts and said strips and plu contacts being adjustable relatively to eac other whereby the distance between the lamp socket and the plug contacts may be varied.

2. In combination, a lamp socket having terminals, a plug having plug contacts, and conducting strips connecting the lamp socket to the plug to hold them in spaced relation to each other, said conducting strips being adjustable to vary the distance between the socket and the plug, and said strips being connected to the terminals of the lamp socket and tothe terminals of the plug whereby they form a part of the circuit through the lamp.

3. In combination, a lamp socket having strips projecting therefrom, said strips be ing electricall connected to the lamp socket terminals, an lug contacts carried b said strips and a justable relatively t ereto whereby the distance between the lamp socket and the plug contacts may be varied.

4. In combination, a lamp socket having a pair of strips electrically connected to the socket terminals and projecting therefrom, a plug having a pair of contacts and a pair of strips electrically connected tosaid contacts and projecting therefrom, and means for fastening said strips together in adjusted overlapping and in circuit -closing relation whereby the distance between the lamp socket and the plug contacts may be adjusted.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of A ril 1928.

CROMWELL A. B. ALvoasoN. 

